Vaporized: Solid, Liquid, and Vaporized Worlds of the Software-Defined Society

Imagine a world where information is no longer tied to the weight of a book or the clunky plastic of a CD case. Information, much like matter, can shift states—solid, liquid, and vapor. Solid information is what we’ve known for centuries: tangible, heavy, and fixed. Think of a book resting on your shelf or a compact disc spinning in a player. These physical forms are stable but limited—they require energy to produce, transport, and store, and they can only be in one place at one time.

Then came the liquid phase, where information began to flow freely through the wires of the Internet. Suddenly, text, images, and music could be accessed instantly over broadband connections. This was a revolution, transforming information into a utility as essential as water or electricity. Yet, this flow was tethered—dependent on cables and fixed locations, much like a river confined to its banks.

But the true transformation—the vapor phase—arrived with the rise of mobile networks and smartphones. Information now floats around us like the atmosphere, fast, free, and everywhere. It’s no longer bound to a place or a device; it’s shared by millions simultaneously, instantly available at any time. This shift has profound implications. Entire industries that once thrived on physical products have vanished almost overnight. Take the iconic Tower Records, a temple of music culture for decades, which disappeared as digital downloads and streaming services took over. The physical CDs and tapes it sold became relics, replaced by intangible bits of data flowing invisibly through the air.

Smartphones are the engines of this vaporization. They have absorbed the functions of countless standalone devices—cameras, GPS units, music players—into a single, portable, and endlessly upgradable tool. This consolidation is not just convenience; it’s a fundamental change in how we interact with information and with each other.

As we move further into this software-defined society, the rules of commerce, communication, and culture are rewritten. We are no longer consumers of physical goods but participants in a vast, digital ecosystem where information is the currency. This transition may be invisible day-to-day, but its effects ripple through every aspect of our lives.

With this foundation laid, we can now explore how these vaporized forms of information create new marketplaces and platforms that redefine value and control in the digital age.